Communication system, information processing system, image formation system, image forming apparatus, mobile information terminal device and information processing device

ABSTRACT

After a digital multi-function peripheral establishes a connection with a mobile phone once, it rejects connection establishment requests made to a wireless communication section by other devices. Moreover, after a connection is established with a mobile phone once, the digital multi-function peripheral stops sending of the address of the wireless communication section through a reader/writer. After completing the sending/receiving of data, the digital multi-function peripheral and the mobile phone delete the addresses of their partner devices stored in them, respectively, for use in sending/receiving data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)on Patent Application No. 2009-049652 filed in Japan on Mar. 3, 2009,No. 2009-061761 filed in Japan on Mar. 13, 2009, the entire contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a communication system including afirst communication device and a second communication device; aninformation processing system including a communication terminal deviceand an information processing device; an image formation systemincluding a mobile communication device and an image forming apparatus;an image forming apparatus for obtaining image data from an externaldevice and forming an image; a mobile information terminal device forcommunicating with an external device; an information processing devicefor selectively establishing a connection; an information processingsystem including the information processing device; an image formingapparatus including the information processing device; and an imageformation system including the image forming apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

In recent years, with the spread of mobile phones having a camerafunction, it is possible to conveniently take digital pictures anytimeanywhere. Moreover, since the capacities of memories included in themobile phones are larger, the mobile phones are increasingly used aspersonal storage devices for storing data, such as digital pictures andbusiness documents. With a reduction in the size and thickness of mobilephones, a memory to be included in a mobile phone is realized by amemory about the size of a fingertip or smaller, namely a card-typememory.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-267370 discloses awireless communication method in which when a user moves his/hernoncontact ID card (or wireless communication device incorporating anoncontact ID card) close to a card reader/writer section of an imageprocessing apparatus, an IC chip of the noncontact ID card receives weakradio waves including terminal ID indicating the ID of the imageprocessing apparatus, which are always emitted from the cardreader/writer section, obtains the terminal ID, and sends the user ID ofthe noncontact ID card to the image processing apparatus by using theterminal ID.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-32176 discloses acommunication system in which when a user moves a mobile phone includinga noncontact IC card for communicating with a reader/writer of apersonal computer by means of electromagnetic waves close to thepersonal computer and the noncontact IC card receives electromagneticwaves radiated from the reader/writer, the mobile phone notifies thepersonal computer of card ID set for the noncontact IC card, and thenthe personal computer identifies the mobile phone on the basis of thenotified card ID and recognizes it as a communication partner.

SUMMARY

On the other hand, as a method for a user to print data such as digitalpictures and business documents stored in the memory of a mobile phone,there are a method in which the memory of the mobile phone is connecteddirectly to a reader device of an image forming apparatus, and data tobe printed (hereinafter referred to as the printing data) is sent to theimage forming apparatus and printed; and a method in which the printingdata is sent wirelessly to an image forming apparatus capable ofwirelessly communicating with the mobile phone and printed.

In the case where printing is performed by directly connecting thememory of the mobile phone to the image forming apparatus, it isnecessary to pull the card-type memory out of the mobile phone andinsert it into a memory card reader of the image forming apparatus.Moreover, after the printing is completed, it is necessary to do theextremely time-consuming work of inserting the memory into the mobilephone again. In addition, there is a possibility that the user mayforget to remove the memory from the memory card reader of the imageforming apparatus after the completion of printing.

Examples of methods for printing the printing data by sending itwirelessly to the image forming apparatus include a method usingwireless communication by a Bluetooth (registered trademark) technology,a method using wireless communication by a RFID system, and a methodusing infrared communication between a mobile phone and an image formingapparatus.

In the case of using wireless communication by the Bluetooth technology,both of the mobile phone and the image forming apparatus need to beBluetooth compatible devices, and it is necessary to perform anoperation for setting the two devices to be ready to communicate witheach other (authentication). For example, when starting wirelesscommunication by the Bluetooth technology, it is necessary to specify aparty to be paired and set the two devices to be ready to communicatewith each other by a setup operation, so-called pairing (or bonding).

However, a complicated and time-consuming operation is required forpairing. More specifically, when a user tries to print image data in thememory of the mobile phone by using an image forming apparatus, the useruses the mobile phone to search for an image forming apparatus capableof wirelessly communicating within a range of a given radius (forexample, 100 m). Then, the user needs to distinguish a Bluetooth addressof a desired image forming apparatus from the Bluetooth addresses of aplurality of image forming apparatuses displayed as search results inthe display section of the mobile phone. However, this distinguishingtask is very difficult, and even if the user distinguishes the Bluetoothaddress properly, a small operation is needed thereafter to set the twodevices to be ready to communicate with each other.

If the image forming apparatus is a rental image forming apparatusinstalled in a convenience store etc., it is often the case that eachuser uses this image forming apparatus for the first time, and theabove-mentioned pairing needs to be performed each time a user uses theimage forming apparatus for the first time.

On the other hand, in the case where infrared communication is usedbetween a mobile phone and an image forming apparatus, the user needs tohold the mobile phone still for a given period of time while keeping theinfrared port of the mobile phone facing the infrared port of the imageforming apparatus during wirelessly sending the printing data.

In the case of using wireless communication using a RFID system such as,for example, Felica (registered trademark) and Edy (registeredtrademark), the communication speed is low, and therefore the user needsto hold the mobile phone very close to the image forming apparatus for agiven period of time until the printing data is wirelessly sent.

As methods for simply implementing the above, the wireless communicationmethod disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2007-267370 and the communication system disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2003-32176 are known. As described above, bothof the wireless communication method disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2007-267370 and the communication systemdisclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-32176 use aso-called RFID system and automatically send the user ID of a noncontactID card (the card ID of a noncontact IC card) to an image processingapparatus (a personal computer) when the noncontact ID card (noncontactIC card) is brought close to the card reader/writer section of the imageprocessing apparatus (the reader/writer of the personal computer).

However, in the wireless communication method disclosed in JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-267370 and the communicationsystem disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2003-32176, the user ID of the noncontact ID card (the card ID of thenoncontact IC card) is automatically sent to the image processingapparatus (personal computer), and a connection is established by justbringing the noncontact ID card (noncontact IC card) close to the cardreader/writer section of the image processing apparatus (thereader/writer of the personal computer). Therefore, when one noncontactID card (noncontact IC card) is already connected to the imageprocessing apparatus (a personal computer), if a third party withmalicious intent performs the above-mentioned operation using adifferent noncontact ID card (noncontact IC card), the noncontact IDcard (noncontact IC card) of the third party is additionally connectedto the image processing apparatus (personal computer), and communicationbetween the noncontact ID card (noncontact IC card) of the third partyand the image processing apparatus is enabled. In this case, forexample, there is a possibility that the third party may use itsnoncontact ID card (noncontact IC card) and manipulate or steal data(for example, personal information) in the previously connectednoncontact ID card (noncontact IC card) through the image processingapparatus (personal computer).

Moreover, in the wireless communication method disclosed in JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-267370 and the communicationsystem disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2003-32176, if a user who communicated with an image processingapparatus (a personal commuter) and therefore has a history ofcommunication remaining in the image processing apparatus tries tocommunicate with the image forming apparatus (personal computer) byusing his/her noncontact ID card (noncontact IC card) and the historywhen a noncontact ID card (noncontact IC card) of other user is beingconnected to the image processing apparatus (personal computer), thereis a possibility that the user may manipulate or steal data on thenoncontact ID card (noncontact IC card) of the other user through theimage processing apparatus (personal computer).

Furthermore, in the wireless communication method disclosed in JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-267370 and the communicationsystem disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2003-32176, establishing a connection using the card reader/writersection of the image processing apparatus (the reader/writer of thepersonal computer) and establishing a connection using the communicationhistory remaining after a connection was established once are alwaysavailable. Hence, these system and method have, for example, a problemthat they are not capable of satisfying connection establishmentrestricting requests necessary in work environment.

More specifically, even if the image processing apparatus (personalcomputer) is configured to prevent leakage of confidential informationby enabling only a part of employees to use the image processingapparatus (personal computer) after authenticating the user ID of thenoncontact ID card (the card ID of the noncontact IC card), there is aproblem that it is still impossible to stop a connection from beingestablished fraudulently using the communication history.

The present invention has been made with the aim of solving the aboveproblems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide acommunication system including a first communication device (informationprocessing device) and a second communication device (communicationterminal device) for communicating with each other; and an informationprocessing system, which are capable of facilitating establishment of aconnection between the two devices and capable of rejecting, after aconnection is established with one device, a connection establishmentrequest from other devices and thereby preventing stealing of data fromthe device with which the connection has already been established.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image formationsystem including a mobile communication device and an image formingapparatus for obtaining data from the mobile communication device andforming an image on the basis of the data, and capable of facilitatingestablishment of a connection between the two devices and capable ofrejecting, after a connection is established with one mobilecommunication device, a connection establishment request from otherdevices and thereby preventing stealing of data from the device withwhich the connection has already been established.

Other object of the present invention is to provide an image formingapparatus for obtaining image data from an external device and formingan image on the basis of the image data, and capable of facilitatingestablishment of a connection with a communication partner device andcapable of rejecting, after a connection is established with oneexternal device, a connection establishment request from other devicesand thereby preventing stealing of data from the device with which theconnection has already been established.

Other object of the present invention is to provide a mobile informationterminal device for communicating with an external device, and capableof rejecting, after a connection is established with one externaldevice, a connection establishment request from other devices andthereby preventing stealing of data from the device with which theconnection has already been established.

Other object of the present invention is to provide an informationprocessing system including a communication device and an informationprocessing device for obtaining data from the communication device andprocessing the data, and capable of facilitating establishment of aconnection between the two devices and capable of selecting acommunication partner device with which the information processingdevice establishes a connection, according to operational conditions.

Other object of the present invention is to provide an image formationsystem including a mobile communication device and an image formingapparatus for obtaining data from the mobile communication device andforming an image on the basis of the data, and capable of facilitatingestablishment of a connection between the two devices and capable ofselecting a mobile communication device as a connection partner withwhich the image forming apparatus establishes a connection, according tooperational conditions.

Other object of the present invention is to provide an informationprocessing device and an image forming apparatus, capable offacilitating establishment of a connection with a communication partnerdevice and capable of selecting a partner device with which a connectionis to be established, according to operational conditions.

A communication system according to the present invention is acommunication system including a first communication device and a secondcommunication device, each of the first communication device and thesecond communication device having a plurality of wireless communicationmeans to communicate with each other, and characterized in that thefirst communication device comprises: first communication means forestablishing a connection and communicating with the secondcommunication device; second communication means for sendingidentification data of the first communication device to the secondcommunication device; and connection rejecting means for rejecting aconnection establishment request from other devices after a connectionis established with the second communication device, and the secondcommunication device comprises: third communication means for receivingthe identification data of the first communication device; and fourthcommunication means for establishing a connection and communicating withthe first communication means by using the identification data of thefirst communication device received by the third communication means.

In the present invention, when establishing a connection and performingcommunication between the first communication device and the secondcommunication device, the second communication means of the firstcommunication device sends the identification data of the firstcommunication device to the third communication means of the secondcommunication device. When the third communication means of the secondcommunication device receives the identification data, the fourthcommunication means of the second communication device uses theidentification data and establishes a connection with the firstcommunication means of the first communication device. After theconnection is established in such a manner, the connection rejectingmeans of the first communication device rejects a connection requestfrom other than the device with which the connection has beenestablished.

The communication system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the first communication device comprises stoppingmeans for stopping the second communication means from sending theidentification data of the first communication device after a connectionis established with the second communication device.

In the present invention, after a connection is established between thefirst communication device (first communication means) and the secondcommunication device (fourth communication means), the stopping meansstops the second communication means from sending the identificationdata. Thus, responding (sending the identification data) to a connectionrequest from other than the partner device with which the connection hasbeen established is prohibited.

The communication system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the second communication device comprises: firststoring means for storing the received identification data of the firstcommunication device, and first deleting means for deleting theidentification data of the first communication device aftercommunication by the fourth communication means is finished.

In the present invention, the first storing means of the secondcommunication device stores the identification data of the firstcommunication device received by the third communication means, and thefirst deleting means deletes the identification data from the firststoring means after the communication by the fourth communication meansis finished.

The communication system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the first communication device comprises: secondstoring means for receiving and storing identification data of thesecond communication device; and second deleting means for deleting theidentification data of the second communication device aftercommunication by the first communication means is finished.

In the present invention, when the first communication device receivesthe identification data of the second communication device, the receivedidentification data of the second communication device is stored in thesecond storing means, and the second deleting means deletes theidentification data of the second communication device from the secondstoring means when the communication by the first communication means isfinished.

The communication system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the second communication means and the thirdcommunication means are configured to perform communication using a RFIDsystem, and the first communication means and the fourth communicationmeans are configured to perform wireless communication over longerdistances than communication using the RFID system.

In the present invention, for example, the third communication means andthe second communication means are a contact or noncontact IC card and acard reader, and the identification data of the first communicationdevice is sent/received by communication using the RFID system. Thefirst communication means and the fourth communication means are bothBluetooth compatible devices, and longer distance wireless communicationthan communication using the RFID system is performed between the firstcommunication device and the second communication device.

The communication system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the first storing means is configured to store thereceived identification data of the first communication device in a freearea within a storage area in the RFID system.

In the present invention, when the third communication means receivesthe identification data of the first communication device, the secondcommunication device stores the received identification data in a freearea within the storage area in the RFID system.

An information processing system according to the present invention isan information processing system including a communication terminaldevice and an information processing device for obtaining data from thecommunication terminal device and processing the data, and characterizedin that the information processing device comprises: firstsending/receiving means for establishing a connection with thecommunication terminal device and sending/receiving data; sending meansfor sending identification data of the information processing device tothe communication terminal device; and connection rejecting means forrejecting a connection establishment request from other devices after aconnection is established with the communication terminal device, andthe communication terminal device comprises: receiving means forreceiving the identification data of the information processing device;and second sending/receiving means for establishing a connection withthe first sending/receiving means and sending/receiving data by usingthe identification data of the information processing device received bythe receiving means.

In the present invention, when establishing a connection between thecommunication terminal device and the information processing device tosend/receive data, the sending means of the information processingdevice sends the identification data of the information processingdevice to the receiving means of the communication terminal device. Whenthe receiving means of the communication terminal device receives theidentification data, the second sending/receiving means of thecommunication terminal device establishes a connection with the firstsending/receiving means of the information processing device by usingthe identification data. After the connection is established in such amanner, the connection rejecting means of the information processingdevice rejects a connection request from other than the partner devicewith which the connection has been established.

The information processing system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the information processing device comprises: adisplay section; obtaining means for obtaining content data held by thecommunication terminal device; and display means for displaying in thedisplay section an image corresponding to the content data obtained bythe obtaining means.

In the present invention, the obtaining means of the informationprocessing device obtains content data held by the communicationterminal device, and the display means displays an image correspondingto the obtained content data in the display section.

The information processing system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the information processing device comprisesnotifying means for notifying the communication terminal device aboutoccurrence of an error or normal completion of data processing.

In the present invention, when the information processing device obtainsdata from the communication terminal device and performs processing onthe data (for example, generating, scaling, or rotating an image on thebasis of the data), if an error occurs or data processing is completednormally, the notifying means notifies the communication terminal deviceof this.

An image formation system according to the present invention is an imageformation system including a mobile communication device and an imageforming apparatus for obtaining data from the mobile communicationdevice and forming an image on the basis of the data, and characterizedin that the image forming apparatus comprises: first sending/receivingmeans for establishing a connection with the mobile communication deviceand sending/receiving data; sending means for sending identificationdata of the image forming apparatus to the mobile communication device;and connection rejecting means for rejecting a connection establishmentrequest from other devices after a connection is established with themobile communication device, and the mobile communication devicecomprises: receiving means for receiving the identification data of theimage forming apparatus; and second sending/receiving means forestablishing a connection with the first sending/receiving means andsending/receiving data by using the identification data of the imageforming apparatus received by the receiving means.

In the present invention, when sending/receiving data between the mobilecommunication device and the image forming apparatus, the sending meansof the image forming apparatus sends the identification data of theimage forming apparatus to the receiving means of the mobilecommunication device. When the receiving means of the mobilecommunication device receives the identification data, the secondsending/receiving means of the mobile communication device establishes aconnection with the first sending/receiving means of the image formingapparatus by using the identification data. After the connection isestablished in such a manner, the connection rejecting means of theimage forming apparatus rejects a connection request from other than thepartner device with which the connection has been established.

The image formation system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the image forming apparatus comprises stoppingmeans for stopping the sending means from sending the identificationdata of the image forming apparatus after a connection is establishedwith the mobile communication device.

In the present invention, after a connection is established between theimage forming apparatus (first sending/receiving means) and the mobilecommunication device (second sending/receiving means), the stoppingmeans of the image forming apparatus stops the sending means fromsending the identification data of the image forming apparatus. Thus,the image forming apparatus prohibits responding (sending of theidentification data) to a connection request from other than the partnerdevice with which the connection has been established.

The image formation system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the image forming apparatus comprises: a displaysection; obtaining means for obtaining content data held by the mobilecommunication device; and display means for displaying an imagecorresponding to the content data obtained by the obtaining means in thedisplay section.

In the present invention, the obtaining means of the image formingapparatus obtains content data held by the mobile communication device,and the display means displays an image corresponding to the obtainedcontent data in the display section.

The image formation system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the image forming apparatus comprises notifyingmeans for notifying the mobile communication device about occurrence ofan error or normal completion of image formation.

In the present invention, when the image forming apparatus obtains datafrom the mobile communication device and forms an image on the basis ofthe data, if an error occurs, or if the formation of the image iscompleted normally, the notifying means notifies the mobilecommunication device of this.

The image formation system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the mobile communication device comprises adisplay section for displaying an image on the basis of stored contentdata and is configured such that when it approaches within a givendistance from the sending means with an image corresponding to arbitrarycontent data displayed in the display section, the secondsending/receiving means sends the arbitrary content data to the firstsending/receiving means.

In the present invention, for example, in a state in which a user of themobile communication device displays a desired image in the displaysection of the mobile communication device, when the user brings themobile communication device very close to the image forming apparatus ata position where the receiving means of the mobile communication deviceis within a given distance from the sending means of the image formingapparatus, the second sending/receiving means of the mobilecommunication device sends image data corresponding to the image to thefirst sending/receiving means of the image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is animage forming apparatus for obtaining image data from an external deviceand forming an image on the basis of the image data, and characterizedby comprising: receiving means for establishing a connection with onedevice and receiving image data; sending means for sending itsidentification data to the one device; and connection rejecting meansfor rejecting a connection establishment request from other devicesafter a connection is established with the one device.

In the present invention, when the image forming apparatus receivesimage data from an external device, the sending means sends itsidentification data to the external device. When the external devicereceives the identification data, it establishes a connection with thereceiving means of the image forming apparatus by using theidentification data to enable sending of image data. After theconnection is established in such a manner, the connection rejectingmeans of the image forming apparatus rejects a connection request from adevice other than the partner device with which the connection has beenestablished.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention ischaracterized by comprising stopping means for stopping the sendingmeans from sending its identification data after a connection isestablished with the one device.

In the present invention, after a connection is established with the onedevice, the stopping means stops the sending means from sending itsidentification data. Thus, the image forming apparatus prohibitsresponding (sending of the identification data) to a connection requestfrom other devices.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention ischaracterized by comprising: a display section; and display means fordisplaying an image corresponding to image data received by thereceiving means in the display section.

In the present invention, when the receiving means receives image data,the display means displays an image corresponding to the received imagedata in the display section.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention ischaracterized by comprising notifying means for notifying the one deviceabout occurrence of an error or normal completion of image formation.

In the present invention, when forming an image on the basis of imagedata received from an external device by the receiving means, if anerror occurs or image formation is completed normally, the notifyingmeans notifies the external device of this.

A mobile information terminal device according to the present inventionis a mobile information terminal device for communicating with anexternal device, and characterized by comprising: first communicationmeans for establishing a connection with one device andsending/receiving data; second communication means for receivingidentification data of the one device; and connection rejecting meansfor rejecting a connection establishment request from other devicesafter a connection is established with the one device.

In the present invention, when communicating with one external device,the second communication means receives the identification data of theone device, and the first communication means establishes a connectionwith the one device and sends/receives data by using the identificationdata. After the connection is established in such a manner, theconnection rejecting means rejects a connection request from a deviceother than the partner device with which the connection has beenestablished.

The mobile information terminal device according to the presentinvention is characterized by comprising: storing means for storingreceived identification data; and deleting means for deleting theidentification data after the first communication means sends/receivesdata by using the identification data.

In the present invention, after the sending/receiving of data by thefirst communication means is finished, the deleting means deletes theidentification data stored in the storing means.

The mobile information terminal device according to the presentinvention is characterized by comprising a display section fordisplaying an image on the basis of stored content data, and configuredsuch that when the mobile information terminal device approaches withina given distance from one device of a communication partner with animage corresponding to arbitrary content data displayed in the displaysection, the first communication means sends the arbitrary content datato the one device.

In the present invention, for example, if the mobile informationterminal device and one device are a mobile phone and a multi-functionperipheral, respectively, when the mobile phone is brought very close tothe multi-function peripheral (one device) while displaying an imagedesired by the user of the mobile phone in the display section of themobile phone, image data corresponding to the displayed image is sentfrom the first communication means of the mobile phone to themulti-function peripheral.

An information processing system according to the present invention isan information processing system including a communication device and aninformation processing device for obtaining data from the communicationdevice and processing the data, and characterized in that theinformation processing device comprises: first sending/receiving meansfor sending/receiving data to/from the communication device; and sendingmeans for sending identification data of the first sending/receivingmeans to the communication device, wherein the first sending/receivingmeans is configured to receive a first connection establishment requestfrom the communication device which received the identification dataand/or a second connection establishment request from other than thecommunication device, and the communication device comprises: receivingmeans for receiving the identification data; and secondsending/receiving means for establishing a connection with the firstsending/receiving means and sending/receiving data by using theidentification data received by the receiving means.

In the present invention, when sending/receiving data between thecommunication device and the information processing device, the sendingmeans of the information processing device sends the identification dataof the first sending/receiving means to the receiving means of thecommunication device, and the second sending/receiving means of thecommunication device establishes a connection with the firstsending/receiving means of the information processing device by usingthe identification data received by the receiving means. Whenestablishing the connection, the first sending/receiving means of theinformation processing device selectively receives a first connectionestablishment request from a communication device which received theidentification data and a second connection establishment request fromother devices.

The information processing system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the information processing device comprises:selection receiving means for receiving the selection of a connectionestablishment request to be accepted from the first connectionestablishment request and/or the second connection establishmentrequest; storing means for storing data indicating that theidentification data was sent when the sending means sent theidentification data; deciding means for deciding on the basis of datastored in the storing means whether or not the received connectionestablishment request is the first connection establishment request; andconnection establishing means for accepting, on the basis of a result ofdecision made by the deciding means, a connection establishment requestaccording to the selection received by the selection receiving means andestablishing a connection.

In the present invention, for example, when a connection establishmentrequest is received after the selection receiving means receives theselection of a connection establishment request to be accepted, thedeciding means decides on the basis of the stored data in the storingmeans whether or not the received connection establishment request isthe first connection establishment request. If data indicating that theidentification data was sent is stored in the storing means, thedeciding means decides that the received connection establishmentrequest is from the communication device which received theidentification data, whereas if data indicating that the identificationdata was not sent is stored, the deciding means decides that thereceived connection establishment request is not from the communicationdevice which received the identification data. On the basis of thedecision result, the connection establishment means accepts a connectionestablishment request according to the selection received by theselection receiving means and establishes a connection.

The information processing system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the sending means and the receiving means areconfigured to perform communication using a RFID system, and the firstsending/receiving means and the second sending/receiving means areconfigured to perform wireless communication over longer distances or ata higher rate than communication using the RFID system.

In the present invention, for example, the receiving means and thesending means are a contact or noncontact IC card and a card reader, andthe identification data is sent/received by communication using the RFIDsystem. The first sending/receiving means and the secondsending/receiving means are both Bluetooth compatible devices andperform wireless communication using a Bluetooth communication systembetween the information processing device and the communication device.

The information processing system according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the communication device is configured to storethe identification data received by the receiving means in a free areawithin a storage area in the RFID system.

In the present invention, when the receiving means of the communicationdevice receives the identification data of the first sending/receivingmeans, the received identification data is stored in a free area in thestorage area in the RFID system.

An information processing device according to the present invention ischaracterized by comprising: sending/receiving means forsending/receiving data to/from an external device; and sending means forsending identification data of the sending/receiving means, wherein thesending/receiving means is configured to receive a first connectionestablishment request from a recipient of the identification data and/ora second connection establishment request from other than the recipient.

In the present invention, when the sending/receiving means performssending/receiving of data to/from an external device, it selectivelyreceive a first connection establishment request from the recipient towhich the identification data of the sending/receiving means was sentand/or a second connection establishment request from other than therecipient.

The information processing device according to the present invention ischaracterized by comprising: selection receiving means for receiving theselection of a connection establishment request to be accepted from thefirst connection establishment request and/or the second connectionestablishment request; storing means for storing data indicating thatthe identification data was sent when the sending means sent theidentification data; deciding means for deciding on the basis of datastored in the storing means whether or not the received connectionestablishment request is the first connection establishment request; andconnection establishing means for accepting, on the basis of a result ofdecision made by the deciding means, a connection establishment requestaccording to the selection received by the selection receiving means andestablishing a connection.

In the present invention, for example, when a connection establishmentrequest is received after the selection receiving means received theselection of a connection establishment request to be accepted, thedeciding means decides, on the basis of data stored in the storingmeans, whether or not the received connection establishment request isthe first connection establishment request. If data indicating that theidentification data was sent is stored in the storing means, thedeciding means decides that the received connection establishmentrequest is from the recipient of the identification data, whereas ifdata indicating that the identification data was not sent is stored, thedeciding means decides that the received connection establishmentrequest is not from the recipient of the identification data. On thebasis of the decision result, the connection establishing means acceptsa connection establishment request according to the selection receivedby the selection receiving means and establishes a connection.

The information processing device according to the present invention ischaracterized in that the sending means is configured to performcommunication using a RFID system, and the sending/receiving means isconfigured to perform wireless communication over longer distances or ata higher rate than communication using the RFID system.

In the present invention, for example, the sending means is a cardreader compatible with a contact or noncontact IC card, and theidentification data is sent by communication using the RFID system. Thesending/receiving means is a Bluetooth compatible device, and theinformation processing device communicates wirelessly with a Bluetoothcompatible device by using a Bluetooth communication system.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention ischaracterized by comprising the above-described information processingdevice of the present invention, and forming an image on the basis ofdata received by the sending/receiving means of the informationprocessing device.

In the present invention, the sending/receiving means of the informationprocessing device selectively receives a first connection establishmentrequest and a second connection establishment request and establishes aconnection with an external device, and then an image is formed on thebasis of data received from the external device with which theconnection has been established.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention ischaracterized by comprising; a display section; and display means fordisplaying in the display section an image on the basis of data receivedby the sending/receiving means of the information processing device.

In the present invention, when the sending/receiving means of theinformation processing device receives data from an external device withwhich a connection has been established, the display means displays animage on the basis of the data in the display section.

An image formation system according to the present invention is an imageformation system including a mobile communication device and an imageforming apparatus for obtaining data from the mobile communicationdevice and forming an image on the basis of the data, and characterizedin that the image forming apparatus comprises: first data communicationmeans for performing data communication with the mobile communicationdevice by using a Bluetooth communication system; data sending means forsending a unique address of the first data communication means to themobile communication device by using a RFID communication system;selection receiving means for receiving the selection of a connectionestablishment request to be accepted from a first connectionestablishment request from a mobile communication device to which theunique address was sent and/or a second connection establishment requestfrom other than the mobile communication device; storing means forstoring data indicating that the unique address was sent when the datasending means sent the unique address; deciding means for deciding, onthe basis of data stored in the storing means, whether or not thereceived connection establishment request is the first connectionestablishment request; and connection establishing means for accepting,on the basis of a result of decision made by the deciding means, aconnection establishment request according to the selection received bythe selection receiving means and establishing a connection, the mobilecommunication section comprises: address receiving means for receivingthe unique address by using the RFID communication system; and seconddata communication means for sending/receiving data by using theBluetooth communication system to/from the first data communicationmeans by using the unique address received by the address receivingmeans, and the image forming apparatus is configured to form on a sheetan image on the basis of received image data when the first datacommunication means received the image data from a mobile communicationdevice with which a connection has been established by the connectionestablishing means.

In the present invention, when performing data communication between themobile communication device and the image forming apparatus, the datasending means of the image forming apparatus sends the unique address ofthe first data communication means to the address receiving means of themobile communication device. The second data communication means of themobile communication device establishes a connection with the first datacommunication means of the image forming apparatus by using the uniqueaddress received by the address receiving means. When establishing theconnection, for example, if a connection establishment request isreceived after the selection receiving means received the selection of aconnection establishment request to be accepted, the deciding meansdecides on the basis of data stored in the storing means whether or notthe received connection establishment request is the first connectionestablishment request. Specifically, if data indicating that the uniqueaddress was sent is stored in the storing means, the deciding meansdecides that the received connection establishment request is from themobile communication device to which the unique address was sent, orthat the received connection establishment request is the firstconnection establishment request. On the other hand, if data indicatingthat the unique address was not sent is stored in the storing means, thedeciding means decides that the received connection establishmentrequest is not from the mobile communication device to which the uniqueaddress was sent, or that the received connection establishment requestis not the first connection establishment request. On the basis of thedecision result, the connection establishment means accepts a connectionestablishment request according to the selection received by theselection receiving means and establishes a connection. After theestablishment of the connection, the first data communication meansreceives image data from the mobile communication device with which theconnection has been established by the connection establishing means,and then an image on the basis of the received image data is formed on asheet.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention ischaracterized by comprising: communication means for performingcommunication by using a Bluetooth communication system; sending meansfor sending a unique address of the communication means by using a RFIDcommunication system; selection receiving means for receiving theselection of a connection establishment request to be accepted from afirst connection establishment request from a recipient of the uniqueaddress and/or a second connection establishment request from other thanthe recipient; storing means for storing data indicating that the uniqueaddress was sent when the sending means sent the unique address;deciding means for deciding on the basis of data stored in the storingmeans whether or not the received connection establishment request isthe first connection establishment request; and connection establishingmeans for accepting, on the basis of a result of decision made by thedeciding means, a connection establishment request according to theselection received by the selection receiving means and establishing aconnection, wherein when the communication means receives image data, animage on the basis of the received image data is formed on a sheet.

In the present invention, for example, when the communication meansperforms data communication with an external device, the sending meanssends the unique address of the communication means to the externaldevice. The selection receiving means receives the selection of aconnection establishment request to be accepted from the firstconnection establishment request from the recipient of the uniqueaddress and the second connection establishment request from other thanthe recipient. Thereafter, when a connection establishment request isreceived, the deciding means decides, on the basis of data stored in thestoring means, whether or not the received connection establishmentrequest is the first connection establishment request. Specifically, ifdata indicating that the unique address was sent is stored in thestoring means, the deciding means decides that the received connectionestablishment request is from the recipient of the unique address, orthat the received connection establishment request is the firstconnection establishment request. On the other hand, if data indicatingthat the unique address was not sent is stored in the storing means, thedeciding means decides that the received connection establishmentrequest is not from the recipient of the unique address, or that thereceived connection establishment request is not the first connectionestablishment request. On the basis of the decision result, theconnection establishment means accepts a connection establishmentrequest according to the selection received by the selection receivingmeans and establishes a connection. The communication means receivesimage data from the external device with which the connection has beenestablished, and then an image on the basis of the received image datais formed on a sheet.

According to the present invention, in the communication system(information processing system) including a first communication device(information processing device) and a second communication device(communication terminal device) for communicating with each other,establishment of a connection between the two devices is facilitated.Moreover, only a single second communication device (communicationterminal device) which received the identification data of the firstcommunication device (information processing device) is enabled tocommunicate with the first communication device (information processingdevice). Therefore, when a connection is established between the firstcommunication device (information processing device) and the singlesecond communication device (communication terminal device), stealing ofdata in the two devices is prevented. Further, after the communication(sending and receiving of data) is finished, the identification data ofthe partner device used for the communication is deleted so as not toleave the identification data in the first communication device(information processing device) and the second communication device(communication terminal device), thereby preventing leakage of personalinformation or confidential information used for the communication. Inaddition, the limited storage areas in the respective devices may beused more effectively.

According to the present invention, in the image formation systemincluding a mobile communication device and an image forming apparatusfor obtaining data from the mobile communication device and forming animage on the basis of the data, establishment of a connection betweenthe two devices is facilitated. Moreover, only a single mobilecommunication device which received the identification data of the imageforming apparatus is enabled to communicate with the image formingapparatus. Therefore, when a connection is established between the imageforming apparatus and the single mobile communication device, stealingof data in the two devices is prevented. Further, after thesending/receiving of data is finished, the identification data of thepartner device used for sending/receiving data is deleted so as not toleave the identification data in the image forming apparatus and themobile communication device, thereby preventing leakage of personalinformation or confidential information used for sending/receiving data.Additionally, the limited storage areas in the respective devices may beused more effectively.

According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus forobtaining image data from an external device and forming an image on thebasis of the image data, establishment of a connection with a partnerdevice is facilitated. Moreover, after the image forming apparatusestablished a connection with one external device, a connectionestablishment request from other devices is rejected, and thus only onedevice which received the identification data of the image formingapparatus is enabled to communicate with the image forming apparatus.Therefore, when a connection is established between the image formingapparatus and one device, a connection to the image forming apparatus orto the one device through the image forming apparatus is prohibited,thereby preventing data in the two devices from being stolen. Further,after obtaining image data, the identification data of the partnerdevice used for obtaining the image data is deleted so as not to leaveit in the image forming apparatus, thereby preventing leakage ofpersonal information or confidential information used for obtaining theimage data. In addition, the limited storage area in the image formingapparatus may be used more effectively.

According to the present invention, in the mobile information terminaldevice for communicating with an external device, after a connection isestablished with one external device, a connection establishment requestfrom other devices is rejected. Thus, only a device corresponding to theidentification data received by the mobile information terminal deviceis enabled to send/receive data to/from the mobile communicationterminal device. Therefore, when a connection is established between themobile information terminal device and one device, a connection to themobile information terminal device or to the one device through themobile information terminal device is prohibited, thereby preventingdata in the two devices from being stolen. Further, after thesending/receiving of data to/from the one device is finished, theidentification data used for sending/receiving data is deleted so as notto leave the identification data in the mobile information terminaldevice, thereby preventing leakage of personal information orconfidential information used for sending/receiving data. In addition,the limited storage area in the mobile information terminal device maybe used more effectively.

According to the present invention, the information processing deviceselectively receives a first connection establishment request from acommunication device to which its identification data was sent and asecond connection establishment request from other than thecommunication device. Thus, establishment of a connection with acommunication partner device is facilitated, and a communication partnerdevice with which a connection is to be established is selectable inaccordance with a change in the operational conditions, or a user'srequest.

According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus acceptsat least one of a first connection establishment request from a mobilecommunication device to which its unique address was sent and a secondconnection establishment request from other than the mobilecommunication device, receives image data from a mobile communicationdevice with which a connection has been established, and forms an imageon the basis of the image data on a sheet. Thus, establishment of aconnection between the two devices is facilitated, and a mobilecommunication device of a communication partner with which a connectionis to be established is selectable in accordance with a change inoperational conditions, or a user's request.

According to the present invention, at least one of a first connectionestablishment request from a recipient to which its identification datawas sent and a second connection establishment request from other thanthe recipient is accepted. Thus, establishment of a connection isfacilitated, and a partner device with which a connection is to beestablished is selectable in accordance with a change in operationalconditions, or a user's request.

The above and further objects and features of the invention will morefully be apparent from the following detailed description withaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a communication system, an informationprocessing system, and an image formation system of Embodiment 1;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating essential structures of thecommunication system, the information processing system, and the imageformation system of Embodiment 1;

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are flowcharts illustrating the processing steps tobe performed by CPUs in a control section of a digital multi-functionperipheral and a control section of a mobile phone;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view explaining the structure of the storagearea in a contact/noncontact IC card;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view illustrating one example of a file name listscreen displayed in a display section of the digital multi-functionperipheral;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the processing steps to be performedby CPUs in a control section of a digital multi-function peripheral anda control section of a mobile phone of Embodiment 2;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view explaining an operation performed in themobile phone to select a file to be printed;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the processing steps to be performedby a CPU in a control section of a digital multi-function peripheral ofEmbodiment 3;

FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are flowcharts illustrating the processing steps tobe performed by the CPUs in the control section of the digitalmulti-function peripheral and the control section of the mobile phone ofEmbodiment 3; and

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view illustrating one example of a connectionselection receiving screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, the following description will specificallyexplain some embodiments in which an image forming apparatus (a firstcommunication device, an information processing device) according to thepresent invention is applied to a digital multi-function peripheralhaving a copying function, a printing function etc. The followingexplains examples in which a communication system, an informationprocessing system and an image formation system according to the presentinvention include the digital multi-function peripheral and a mobilephone (a second communication device, a communication terminal device, amobile communication device) as components.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a communication system, an informationprocessing system and an image formation system of Embodiment 1, andFIG. 2 is a Block Diagram Illustrating Essential structures of thecommunication system, the information processing system and the imageformation system of Embodiment 1. The communication system, informationprocessing system and image formation system of Embodiment 1 include adigital multi-function peripheral 1 and a mobile phone 2.

The digital multi-function peripheral 1 comprises hardware, such as acontrol section 11, an image input section 17, an image processingsection 18, an image output section 19, a storage section 14, a wirelesscommunication section 16, a reader/writer 15, and an operation panel 12which constitute as a whole the digital multi-function peripheral.

The control section 11 includes a CPU for controlling each of theabove-mentioned hardware sections, and a RAM for temporarily storingdata necessary for control. For example, the storage section 14 is anon-volatile semiconductor memory and stores image data subjected toimage processing, and control programs for controlling the respectivehardware sections. In addition, the storage section 14 stores a programfor displaying in the display section 13 various kinds of screens, suchas a later-described file name list screen, and image data receivedthrough the wireless communication section 16. The storage section 14stores a plurality of passkeys in advance. When the CPU of the controlsection 11 receives a passkey through the operation panel 28, 12, itcompares the received passkey with the passkeys stored in the storagesection 14.

The control section 11 loads a control program from the storage section14 as the need arises, and executes the loaded control program toactivate the whole device as an image forming apparatus according to thepresent invention.

The operation panel 12 includes various buttons for receivinginstructions from users, the Enter key for receiving a confirmation ofan instruction, and the ten-key. The operation panel 12 includes thedisplay section 13, such as a liquid crystal display, and displays afile name list screen (content data) about images, documents etc. heldby a mobile phone 2 with which the connection has been established. Thedisplay section 13 is configured to function as a touch panel.

The image input section 17 is reading means for optically reading animage on a document, and comprises a light source for irradiating lighton a document, and an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge CoupledDevice). The image input section 17 focuses a reflected light image fromthe document set at a given reading position onto the image sensor, andoutputs analog electric signals representing RGB (R: Red, G: Green, B:Blue) from the image sensor. The analog electric signals outputted fromthe image input section 17 are inputted into the image processingsection 18.

The image processing section 18 generates digital image data on thebasis of the analog electric signals inputted from the image inputsection 17, performs processing according to the type of the image, andgenerates image data to be outputted. The generated image data isoutputted to the image output section 19, or the wireless communicationsection 16.

The image output section 19 is an image forming section for forming animage desired by a user on a sheet by an electro-photographic method,and forms the image on the basis of the image data outputted from theimage processing section 18 on a sheet of paper, OHP film etc. The imageoutput section 19 comprises a photoreceptor drum; a charger for chargingthe photoreceptor drum to a given electric potential; a laser writingdevice for generating an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptordrum by emitting laser light according to image data to be processed; adeveloping device for supplying toner to visualize the electrostaticlatent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum; and atransfer device (not shown) for transferring the toner image formed onthe surface of the photoreceptor drum to paper. Instead of forming animage by the electro-photographic method using the laser writing device,an inkjet method, a heat-transfer method, a sublimation method etc. maybe used to form the image

The wireless communication section (first communication means, firstsending/receiving means, receiving means) 16 is compatible with aBluetooth technology, for example, and establishes wirelessly aconnection with other Bluetooth compatible device (for example, alater-described wireless communication section 27) within a given shortdistance (for example, 100 m). More specifically, the wirelesscommunication section 16 (Bluetooth compatible device) has a uniqueBluetooth address (identification data) and is capable of connecting toand communicating with other Bluetooth compatible device by performing aprocess called pairing for specifying (authenticating) parties to beconnected using their mutual Bluetooth address via a temporary shortdistance network called piconet. The piconet is automatically andactively established, or lost, when other Bluetooth compatible devicecomes within a range of a given distance from the wireless communicationsection 16, or out of the range of the given distance. The wirelesscommunication section 16 is not limited to a Bluetooth compatibledevice, and may be a device capable of performing wireless communicationover longer distances or at a higher rate than communication using aRFID system, such as, for example, a device compatible with IEEE802.11.In this case, however, the later-described wireless communicationsection 27 corresponding to the wireless communication section 16 needsto be a device compatible with IEEE802.11.

The reader/writer 15 sends/receives data in a contact/noncontact fashionto/from a later-described contact/noncontact IC card 26 by using anoncontact communication system (RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)system). The following will explain noncontact type communicationbetween the reader/writer 15 and the contact/noncontact IC card 26. Thereader/writer 15 emits an activation signal (electromagnetic wave) allthe time, and when the contact/noncontact IC card 26 and thereader/writer 15 come closer to be able to communicate with each other,the contact/noncontact IC card 26 receives the electromagnetic waveemitted from the reader/writer 15. When the contact/noncontact IC card26 receives the electromagnetic wave emitted from the reader/writer 15,it generates a DC power source by rectifying the carrier wave of thereceived electromagnetic wave and drives an internal circuit by usingthe generated DC power source. Then, the contact/noncontact IC card 26performs amplitude modulation and sends a response signal responding tothe received activation signal to the reader/writer 15. As thenoncontact communication system, for example, a RFID system, such asFelica and Edy, is employed. When the reader/writer 15 receives theresponse signal from the contact/noncontact IC card 26, it sends theunique Bluetooth address (identification data) of the wirelesscommunication section 16 to the contact/noncontact IC card 26.

In order for a Bluetooth compatible device to establish a connectionwith a party to be connected by pairing, it is usually necessary toperform time-consuming operations including searching for addresses ofconnectable devices within a given range and selecting and specifying adevice desired to be connected from the discovered addresses. In thesystem of the present invention, however, such operations are notnecessary when establishing a connection between the mobile phone 2 andthe digital multi-function peripheral 1.

On the other hand, the mobile phone 2 comprises a control section 21, aflash memory 24, a base station communication section 25, an operationpanel 28, an input section 23, an output section 22, acontact/noncontact IC card 26, and a wireless communication section 27.

The control section 21 includes a CPU for controlling the whole device,a ROM for storing programs and various kinds of data, and a RAM capableof performing high-speed writing/reading. The flash memory 24 is alarge-capacity storage device and stores phone numbers, image data,listing data (content data) for displaying a list of file names ofimages, documents etc. held by the mobile phone 2, and thumbnails of theimages.

The base station communication section 25 has a communication interfaceand communicates with a base station. The operation panel 28 includesoperation buttons for receiving user's operations. The input section 23is a camera for obtaining an image by photographing, a microphone forreceiving an input of sounds, etc. The output section 22 is a liquidcrystal monitor for outputting an image, a speaker for outputtingsounds, etc.

The contact/noncontact IC card 26 sends/receives data in acontact/noncontact fashion to/from the reader/writer 15 of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 by using a so-called noncontactcommunication system. As described above, a RFID system, such as Felicaand Edy, is employed as the communication system. Like the wirelesscommunication section 16 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1, thewireless communication section (fourth communication means, secondsending/receiving means) 27 is compatible with the Bluetooth technology.When other Bluetooth compatible device (for example, the wirelesscommunication section 16) is within a given short distance (for example,100 m), the wireless communication section 27 is connected to andcommunicates with this device in a wireless fashion.

The following will explain the communication process and the imageformation process to be performed by the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 and the mobile phone 2 in the communication system, theinformation processing system and the image formation system accordingto Embodiment 1. Here, one example of printing an image on the basis ofimage data stored in a user's mobile phone 2 by the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 will be explained. Note that the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 is also capable of displaying in the displaysection 13 an image on the basis of image data stored in the mobilephone 2. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are flowcharts illustrating the processingsteps to be performed by the CPUs in the control section 11 of thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 and the control section 21 of themobile phone 2. As described above, in the communication system, theinformation processing system and the image formation system accordingto Embodiment 1, both of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and themobile phone 2 are Bluetooth compatible devices.

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides whether ornot the mobile phone 2 has approached within a given range (S101). Thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 has the reader/writer 15, and themobile phone 2 has the contact/noncontact IC card 26. The reader/writer15 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sends an activation signal(electromagnetic wave) all the time. For example, when the user bringsthe mobile phone 2 very close to the reader/writer 15, thecontact/noncontact IC card 26 of the mobile phone 2 receives theactivation signal sent from the reader/writer 15. When thecontact/noncontact IC card 26 receives the activation signal, it sends aresponse signal responding to the activation signal. When thereader/writer 15 receives the response signal sent from thecontact/noncontact IC card 26, the CPU of the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 decides that the mobile phone 2 has approached within thegiven range.

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that themobile phone 2 has not approached within the given range (S101: NO), itwaits until the mobile phone 2 approaches within the given range. On theother hand, when the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1decides that the mobile phone 2 has approached within the given range(S101: YES), it retrieves a Bluetooth address held by the wirelesscommunication section 16 (hereinafter referred to as the multi-functionperipheral address) and sends it to the reader/writer 15. Then, the CPUof the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sends the multi-functionperipheral address (identification data) through the reader/writer 15(second communication means, sending means) to the contact/noncontact ICcard 26 of the mobile phone 2 (S102).

Meanwhile, the CPU of the mobile phone 2 monitors the contact/noncontactIC card (third communication means, receiving means) 26 and decideswhether or not the multi-function peripheral address has been receivedfrom the multi-function peripheral 1 (S201). When the CPU of the mobilephone 2 decides that the multi-function peripheral address has not beenreceived (S201: NO), it waits until it receives the multi-functionperipheral address. When the CPU of the mobile phone 2 decides that themulti-function peripheral address has been received (S201: YES), itstores the received multi-function peripheral address in the storagearea in the contact/non-contract IC card 26.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view explaining the structure of the storagearea in the contact/noncontact IC card 26. The storage area in thecontact/noncontact IC card 26 includes a common area 26B and a privatearea 26A (free area). The CPU of the mobile phone 2 writes the receivedmulti-function peripheral address (identification data) in the privatearea (first storing means) 26A in the contact/noncontact IC card 26. Theprivate area 26A is an area that a service provider may use freely.Highly free writing becomes possible by using the private area 26A. Onthe other hand, it is possible to write data in the common area 26B. Inthis case, however, since a remote issuing system for thecontact/noncontact IC card 26 must be used, there is a problem that thedegree of freedom in writing is low.

The CPU of the mobile phone 2 sends a pairing request and the Bluetoothaddress of the wireless communication section 27 (hereinafter referredto as the mobile phone address) to the digital multi-function peripheral1 (S202). Here, the wireless communication section 27 of the mobilephone 2 sends the mobile phone address and data requesting for pairingto the wireless communication section 16 of the digital multi-functionperipheral 1.

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 monitors the wirelesscommunication section 16 and decides whether or not a pairing requestand a mobile phone address have been received from a mobile phone 2(S103). When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decidesthat a pairing request and a mobile phone address have not been received(S103: NO), it waits until it receives a pairing request and a mobilephone address. When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1decides that a pairing request and a mobile phone address have beenreceived (S103: YES), it stores the received mobile phone address in thestorage section (second storing means) 14. The CPU of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 displays a passkey input screen asking for apasskey in the display section 13 of the operation panel 12 (S104) andrequests the user to input (enter) a passkey. The CPU of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 receives the passkey inputted by the userthrough the operation panel 12 (or the touch panel of the displaysection 13), and stores the received passkey temporarily in the storagesection 14.

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 compares the passkeyinputted by the user with a passkey stored in advance in the storagesection 14. If the passkeys match, a connection between the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 and the mobile phone 2 is established, andthey are set to be ready to communicate with each other. On the otherhand, if the passkeys do not match, the CPU of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 displays this fact and a screen asking forthe input of a passkey again in the display section 13.

When a connection is established with the mobile phone 2, the CPU(connection rejecting means) of the digital multi-function peripheral 1starts invalidating connection establishment requests (pairing requests)from other devices (S105). In other words, when a connection isestablished with the mobile phone 2, even if the wireless communicationsection 16 receives data requesting for pairing from other devices, theCPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 invalidates the receiveddata.

Thereafter, the CPU (stopping means) of the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 cuts off a power source supplying power to thereader/writer 15 and stops the reader/writer 15 from sending themulti-function peripheral address (S106).

Thus, after the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is connected to onemobile phone 2, it invalidates the pairing requests from other devices,thereby preventing a third party from fraudulently accessing the mobilephone 2 through the digital multi-function peripheral 1 by ill-using themultiple pairing capability of communication using the Bluetoothtechnology. Hence, manipulation and stealing of data in the mobile phone2 through the digital multi-function peripheral 1 are prevented.

Next, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 requestslisting data (content data) for displaying a list of file names ofimages, business documents etc. held in the mobile phone 2 (S107). Morespecifically, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sendsdata requesting for listing data to the mobile phone 2 through thewireless communication section 16.

When the wireless communication section 27 receives the data requestingfor listing data from the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the CPUof the mobile phone 2 retrieves the listing data of the file names ofimages, documents etc. stored in the flash memory 24 and sends it to thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 through the wireless communicationsection 27 (S203).

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 obtains through thewireless communication section (obtaining means) 16 the listing datasent from the mobile phone 2 (S108) and stores it in the storage section14.

The CPU (display means) of the digital multi-function peripheral 1displays in the display section 13 the file name list screen forreceiving from the user the selection of a file desired to be printed onthe basis of the listing data stored in the storage section 14 (S109).

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view illustrating one example of the file namelist screen displayed in the display section 13 of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1. In the file name list screen, a pluralityof file names on the basis of the listing data of the file namesreceived from the mobile phone 2 are displayed, for example, in ascrollable way. Moreover, in the file name list screen, a thumbnail of afile selected by the user by operating the operation panel 12 (or thetouch panel of the display section 13) is displayed. Further, in thefile name list screen, soft keys such as “Number of Copies”, “Zoom” and“Print” are displayed. The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral1 may receive print settings, such as the number of copies to be printedand the scale to be changed, from the user through the operation panel12 (or the touch panel of the display section 13). The user selects afile desired to be printed, enters print settings through this screen,and instructs to start printing by operating the “Print” soft key. Inthis case, since the user selects a desired file on the large displaysection 13 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 instead ofoperating a small key while looking at the small liquid crystal monitorof the mobile phone 2, better image viewing performance and keyoperation performance are obtained.

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 monitors theoperation panel 12 and the touch panel of the display section 13, anddecides whether or not the selection of a file has been received fromthe user (S110). When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1decides that it has not received the selection of a file (S110: NO), itwaits until the selection of a file is received. On the other hand, whenthe CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that it hasreceived the selection of a file (S110: YES), it decides whether or notis has received a print instruction from the user (S111). The decisionhere is made by the CPU by monitoring the operation panel 12 and thetouch panel of the display section 13.

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that ithas not received a print instruction (S111: NO), it waits until a printinstruction is received. When the CPU of the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 decides that it has received a print instruction (S111:YES), it requests the mobile phone 2 for image data of a file selected(hereinafter referred to as the selected file) (S112). Here, thewireless communication section 16 makes the request by sending themobile phone 2 data requesting for sending the image data of theselected file.

The CPU of the mobile phone 2 monitors the wireless communicationsection 27 and decides whether or not there is a request for the imagedata of the selected file from the digital multi-function peripheral 1(S204). When the CPU of the mobile phone 2 decides that there is norequest for the image data of the selected file (S204: NO), it waitsuntil it receives a request for the image data. When the CPU of themobile phone 2 decides that there is a request for the image data of theselected file (S204: YES), it retrieves from the flash memory 24 theimage data of the selected file requested from the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1, and sends it to the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 through the wireless communication section 27 (S205).

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 receives throughthe wireless communication section 16 the image data of the selectedfile from the mobile phone 2 (S113), it stores the received image datain the storage section 14.

Then, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sends the imagedata stored in the storage section 14 to the image output section 19,and prints an image on the basis of the image data by the image outputsection 19 (S114).

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sends data notifyingthe result of printing, such as printing has been completed normally, ora printing error has occurred, through the wireless communicationsection (notifying means) 16 to the mobile phone 2 (S115).

The CPU of the mobile phone 2 obtains data notifying the result ofprinting from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 through thewireless communication section 27 (S206) and stores it in the flashmemory 24.

Next, the CPU of the mobile phone 2 sends through the output section 22an output on the basis of the data notifying the result of printingstored in the flash memory 24 (S207). Here, for example, the output maybe implemented by displaying text notifying the result of printing inthe liquid crystal monitor of the mobile phone 2, or outputting througha speaker of the mobile phone 2 a voice notifying the result ofprinting, or a warning sound.

After the notification of the result of printing, the CPU of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 decides whether or not printing is to befinished (S116). Here, for example, the CPU of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 displays text asking “Do you want to finishprinting?” and soft keys representing “YES” and “NO” in the displaysection 13 and monitors an operation of the display section 13 (touchpanel) to make the decision.

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides not tofinish printing (S116: NO), it returns to the process of step S109,displays the file name list screen again in the display section 13, andreceives the selection of a file desired to be printed from the user.When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides tofinish printing (S116: YES), then it decides whether or notcommunication is to be finished (S117). Here, for example, the CPU ofthe digital multi-function peripheral 1 displays text asking “Do youwant to finish communication?” and soft keys representing “YES” and “NO”in the display section 13 and monitors an operation of the displaysection 13 (touch panel) to make the decision.

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides not tofinish communication (S117: NO), it returns to the process of step S116again. On the other hand, when the CPU of the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 decides to finish communication (S117: YES), it sends datastating that communication is finished to the mobile phone 2 through theWireless communication section 16 to notify that printing is finished(S118).

The CPU (second deleting means) of the digital multi-function peripheral1 deletes the mobile phone address received in step S103 and the passkeyreceived in step S104 from the storage section 14 (S119). It is thuspossible to prevent a third party with malicious intent from ill-usingthe communication history and stealing the mobile phone address. Notethat the decision as to whether or not to finish printing, or thedecision as to whether or not to finish communication between thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 and the mobile phone 2, is notnecessarily made on the basis of an instruction from the user, and, forexample, a decision to finish printing or communication may be made whenthe display section 13 (touch panel) is not operated for a given periodof time.

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 cancels the settingof invalidating connection establishment requests from other devices,which was started in step S105 (S120), and finishes the process.

For example, after sending an output indicating normal completion instep S207, the CPU of the mobile phone 2 monitors the wirelesscommunication section 27 and decides whether or not a notification ofcompletion of communication has been received in a given period of time(S208). When the CPU of the mobile phone 2 decides that a notificationof completion of communication has not been received even after thegiven period of time (S208: NO), the CPU of the mobile phone 2 returnsto the process of step S204 and decides whether or not there is arequest for image data from the digital multi-function peripheral 1. Onthe other hand, when the CPU (first deleting means) of the mobile phone2 decides that a notification of completion of communication has beenreceived (S208: YES), it deletes the multi-function peripheral addressreceived in step S201 from the storage area in the contact/noncontact ICcard 26 (S209) and finishes the communication.

As described above, in the communication system, the informationprocessing system and the image formation system of Embodiment 1, theuser of the mobile phone 2 receives the multi-function peripheraladdress from the digital multi-function peripheral 1, and sends datafrom the mobile phone 2 to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 byusing the multi-function peripheral address. It is thus possible toprevent confidential information (such as, for example, the address andpasskey) in the mobile phone 2 from leaking against the user'sintention. Moreover, after finishing the communication, the receivedBluetooth address (and the received passkey) of the partner are deletedfrom each of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and the mobilephone 2. Hence, it is possible to prevent leakage of the communicationhistory (the Bluetooth address and passkey of the partner), and it isalso possible to prevent the Bluetooth address of the connected partyobtained whenever pairing is made from wastefully occupying the resourceof each of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and the mobile phone2, thereby enabling more effective use of the resources of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 and the mobile phone 2.

Embodiment 1 described above has explained the configuration in whichthe user manually inputs a passkey so as to certainly input the passkey.However, if simplicity has priority, the passkey may be sent/receivedthrough the reader/writer 15 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1and the contact/noncontact IC card 26 of the mobile phone 2.

For a device (such as a mouse and a head set) which is not capable ofinputting a passkey, the passkey may be set to a fixed value, or astructure that eliminates the need of inputting the passkey may beconfigured. For instance, in such a device that is not capable ofinputting a passkey, a simple combination of numbers such as, forexample “0000” may be set as the default passkey.

Embodiment 2

The Following Will Explain a Communication Process and an imageformation process which are performed by a digital multi-functionperipheral 1 and a mobile phone 2 in a communication system, aninformation processing system, and an image formation system accordingto Embodiment 2. Parts similar to those in Embodiment 1 described abovewill be designated with the same reference codes, and detailedexplanations thereof will be omitted.

The following will explain an example in which an image on the basis ofimage data stored in a user's mobile phone 2 is printed by the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1. In the communication system, theinformation processing system and the image formation system ofEmbodiment 2, sending and receiving of a passkey is performed throughthe reader/writer 15 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and thecontact/noncontact IC card 26 of the mobile phone 2. FIG. 6 is aflowchart illustrating the processing steps to be performed by the CPUsin the control section 11 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 andthe control section 21 of the mobile phone 2.

The user of the mobile phone 2 operates the mobile phone 2 to select afile to be printed (S401). FIG. 7 is an explanatory view explaining anoperation performed in the mobile phone 2 to select a file to beprinted. The liquid crystal monitor (output section 22) of the mobilephone 2 displays thumbnails of image data stored in the flash memory 24,and receives the selection of any of the thumbnails made by moving thecursor by operating a key (such as a press button on the operation panel28). When a thumbnail is selected, the output section 22 displays thefile name (of the selected file) corresponding to the selected thumbnailand an image larger than the thumbnail as illustrated in FIG. 7. In astate in which the file to be printed is selected as illustrated in FIG.7, the user brings the mobile phone 2 very close to the reader/writer 15of the digital multi-function peripheral 1.

Meanwhile, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decideswhether or not the mobile phone 2 has approached within a given range(S301). More specifically, when the reader/writer 15 has received aresponse signal sent by the contact/noncontact IC card 26 of the mobilephone 2 in respond to an activation signal sent by the reader/writer 15,the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that themobile phone 2 has approached within the given range. When the CPU ofthe digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that the mobile phone 2has not approached within the given range (S301: NO), it waits until themobile phone 2 approaches with the given range. When the CPU of thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that the mobile phone 2 hasapproached within the given range (S301: YES), it retrieves theBluetooth address (the multi-function peripheral address) and thepasskey held by the wireless communication section 16, and sends them tothe contact/noncontact IC card 26 of the mobile phone 2 (S302). Morespecifically, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sendsthe retrieved multi-function peripheral address and passkey to thereader/writer 15, and then the reader/writer 15 sends them to thecontact/noncontact IC card 26 of the mobile phone 2. The passkey may bestored in the wireless communication section 16 together with themulti-function peripheral address, or may be stored in the storagesection 14.

The CPU of the mobile phone 2 monitors the contact/noncontact IC card 26and decides whether or not the multi-function peripheral address and thepasskey have been received (S402). When the CPU of the mobile phone 2decides that the multi-function peripheral address and the passkey havenot been received (S402: NO), it waits until it receives themulti-function peripheral address and the passkey. When the CPU of themobile phone 2 decides that the multi-function peripheral address andthe passkey have been received (S402: YES), it stores the receivedmulti-function peripheral address and passkey in the storage area in thecontact/non-contract IC card 26.

Next, the CPU of the mobile phone 2 tries to establish a connection withthe digital multi-function peripheral 1 by sending the mobile phoneaddress and passkey stored in the wireless communication section 27 tothe digital multi-function peripheral 1 through the wirelesscommunication section 27 (S403). The passkey may be stored in thewireless communication section 27 together with the mobile phoneaddress, or may be stored in the flash memory 24.

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 receives themobile phone address and passkey from the mobile phone 2 through thewireless communication section 16 (S303), it stores the mobile phoneaddress and passkey in the storage section 14. Pairing is completed byreceiving the mobile phone address and passkey, and the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 and the mobile phone 2 are connected to eachother and set to be ready to communicate with each other.

Next, the CPU of the mobile phone 2 notifies the establishment ofconnection by sending data indicating that a connection has beenestablished to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 through thewireless communication section 27 (S404).

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 receives thenotification of the establishment of connection indicating that aconnection has been established from the mobile phone 2 through thewireless communication section 16 (S304). Then, the CPU of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 starts to invalidate connectionestablishment requests (pairing requests) from other devices (S305). Inother words, when a connection is established, even if the wirelesscommunication section 16 receives data requesting for pairing, the CPUof the digital multi-function peripheral 1 invalidates the data.Moreover, the CPU of the multi-function peripheral 1 cuts off the powersource supplying power to the reader/writer 15 and stops thereader/writer 15 from sending the multi-function peripheral address(S306).

After notifying the establishment of connection, the CPU of the mobilephone 2 retrieves the image data of the file selected in step S401 fromthe flash memory 24 and sends it to the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 through the wireless communication section 27 (S405).

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 receives the imagedata from the mobile phone 2 through the wireless communication section16 (S307), and stores the received image data in the storage section 14.Next, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sends the imagedata stored in the storage section 14 to the image output section 19 andprints an image on the basis of the image data by the image outputsection 19 (S308).

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sends data notifyingthe result of printing, such as normal completion of printing, oroccurrence of an error during printing, to the mobile phone 2 throughthe wireless communication section 16 (S309).

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 deletes the mobilephone address and passkey received in step S303 from the storage section14 (S310). Thus, stealing of the mobile phone address by a third partywith malicious intent is prevented.

Thereafter, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 cancelsthe setting of invalidating connection establishment requests (pairingrequests) from other devices, which was started in step S305, (S311) andfinishes the process.

Meanwhile, the CPU of the mobile phone 2 obtains the data notifying theresult of printing from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 throughthe wireless communication section 27 (S406), and stores it in the flashmemory 24.

The CPU of the mobile phone 2 sends though the output section 22 anoutput on the basis of the data notifying the result of printing storedin the flash memory 24 (S407).

Moreover, the CPU of the mobile phone 2 deletes the multi-functionperipheral address and passkey received in step S402 from the storagearea in the contact/noncontact IC card 26 (S408), and completes theprocess. Thus, stealing of the multi-function peripheral address by athird party with malicious intent is prevented.

As described above, in the communication system, the informationprocessing system and the image formation system according to Embodiment2, by just bringing the mobile phone 2 which selected a file to beprinted beforehand close to the digital multi-function peripheral 1, thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 is caused to print the file, andthus the printing operation is extremely facilitated.

The above description has explained an image forming apparatus, a mobileinformation terminal device, a communication system, an informationprocessing system, and an image formation system according to thepresent invention by illustrating an example including the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 (image forming apparatus) and the mobilephone 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Forexample, the mobile phone 2 may be a digital camera, a mobile computer,or a mobile terminal device called a PDA, with a communication function.Moreover, the present invention may have not only a structure forsending data from the mobile phone 2 to the digital multi-functionperipheral 1, but also a structure for sending document image data readby a scanner of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 to the mobilephone 2. Further, the present invention may have a structure for sendingfacsimile image data, electronic data etc. stored in the storage devicein the digital multi-function peripheral 1 to the mobile phone 2. Inaddition, it is possible to produce the same effects as those of thepresent invention between devices, each of which having two or morecommunication means for communicating with each other like thereader/writer 15 and the wireless communication section 16 in thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 (the image forming apparatus) andthe contact/noncontact IC card 26 and the wireless communication section27 in the mobile phone 2.

Although Embodiment 2 explains an example in which when the user bringsthe mobile phone 2 very close to the reader/writer 15 of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1, the multi-function peripheral address issent from the reader/writer 15 to the contact/noncontact IC card 26 ofthe mobile phone 2, the present invention is not limited to this. Forinstance, the present invention may be configured to send the mobilephone address from the contact/noncontact IC card 26 of the mobile phone2 to the reader/writer 15 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1when the user brings the mobile phone 2 very close to the reader/writer15 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1.

In Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, although deletion of the addressand passkey is performed in only one way, a mobile phone 2 may beprovided with a control section for sending a deletion instruction. Inthis configuration, even if an image forming apparatus (a digitalmulti-function peripheral 1) having no deletion control section is used,the address stored in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 iscertainly deleted by an address deletion instruction from the mobilephone 2, thereby further enhancing security. Moreover, the presentinvention may be configured to let the user to decide whether to deleteor keep the addresses stored in the digital multi-function peripheral 1and the mobile phone 2, and receive an instruction according to theresult of decision. For example, in the case when the user communicateswith the digital multi-function peripheral 1 many times at shortintervals, if data about the addresses and passkey are left in thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 and the mobile phone 2, there is amerit that the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and the mobile phone2 are enabled to communicate with each other without the process ofbringing the mobile phone 2 very close to the digital multi-functionperipheral 1.

Although Embodiments 1 and 2 describe an example in which the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 (the image forming apparatus) receives imagedata from the mobile phone 2 and prints an image (forms an image) on thebasis of the image data, the present invention is not limited to this.Needless to say, the present invention produces similar effects evenwhen performing so-called data processing (or information processing)such as, for example, receiving text data from a mobile computer or amobile terminal device called a PDA and editing the text data, orreceiving image data and scaling or rotating the image data.

Embodiment 3

The Following Will Explain a Communication Process and an imageformation process which are performed by a digital multi-functionperipheral 1 and a mobile phone 2 in an information processing systemand an image formation system according to Embodiment 3. Parts similarto those in Embodiment 1 described above will be designated with thesame reference codes, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

In Embodiment 3, when the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1sends the unique Bluetooth address (identification data, unique address)of the wireless communication section 16 through the reader/writer 15 toan external device, it stores this fact in the storage section 14.

In Embodiment 3, the operation panel 12 of the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 has the “Connection Establishment Restriction” key forreceiving from a user the selection of a connection establishmentrequest to be accepted by the digital multi-function peripheral 1. Whenthe user operates the “Connection Establishment Restriction” key on theoperation panel 12, the display section 13 displays a connectionselection receiving screen for receiving from the user the selection ofa connection establishment request to be accepted by the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1. Moreover, the operation panel 12 ofEmbodiment 3 displays in the display section 13 an image (screen) on thebasis of data received from the mobile phone 2 with which the connectionhas been established.

Next, an outline of the functions of the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 of Embodiment 3 will be explained. The following willexplain an example in which the digital multi-function peripheral 1obtains image data from the mobile phone 2 and prints an image on thebasis of the obtained image data. In Embodiment 3, thecontact/noncontact IC card 26 of the mobile phone 2 communicates withthe reader/writer 15 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 by anoncontact communication system (RFID system), and the wirelesscommunication section 27 of the mobile phone 2 performs wirelesscommunication with the wireless communication section 16 of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 by a Bluetooth communication system. Themobile phone 2 retrieves listing data of the file names of images,documents etc. stored in the flash memory 24, according to a requestfrom the digital multi-function peripheral 1, and sends it to thedigital multi-function peripheral 1.

When the mobile phone 2 has approached within a range of a givendistance, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sends the Bluetoothaddress of the wireless communication section 16 (the multi-functionperipheral address) from the reader/writer 15 to the contact/noncontactIC card 26 of the mobile phone 2, and stores data indicating this factin the storage section 14. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating theprocessing steps to be performed by the CPU in the control section 11 ofthe digital multi-function peripheral 1 of Embodiment 3.

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides whether ornot the mobile phone 2 has approached within a given range (S501). Morespecifically, when the reader/writer 15 receives a response signal sentfrom the contact/noncontact IC card 26 of the mobile phone 2 in respondto an activation signal sent by the reader/writer 15, the CPU of thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that the mobile phone 2 hasapproached within the given range.

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that themobile phone 2 has not approached within the given range (S501: NO), itwaits until the mobile phone 2 approaches within the given range. Whenthe CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that themobile phone 2 has approached within the given range (S501: YES), itretrieves the multi-function peripheral address held by the wirelesscommunication section 16 and sends it to the reader/writer 15. Then, theCPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sends the multi-functionperipheral address through the reader/writer 15 to thecontact/noncontact IC card 26 of the mobile phone 2 (S502). Themulti-function peripheral address sent to the contact/noncontact IC card26 of the mobile phone 2 is stored in the storage section in thecontact/noncontact IC card 26. Note that the mobile phone 2 writes thereceived multi-function peripheral address in the private area 26A (seeFIG. 4) in the contact/noncontact IC card 26.

Next, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 stores in thestorage section 14 data indicating that the multi-function peripheraladdress was sent by the reader/writer 15. For example, a job statusmanagement area for storing the status of sending the multi-functionperipheral address by the reader/writer 15 is provided in a part of thestorage area in the storage section 14. The CPU of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 writes “Stopped” in the job statusmanagement area in the storage section 14 before the multi-functionperipheral address is sent by the reader/writer 15, and writes(rewrites) “Executing” in the job status management area in the storagesection 14 after the reader/writer 15 sent the multi-function peripheraladdress (S503).

Thereafter, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 performsa later-described connection establishment and data receiving process(S504).

After completing the connection establishment and data receivingprocess, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 writes“Stopped” again in the storage section 14 (S505), and finishes theprocess.

Next, the connection establishment and data receiving process will beexplained in detail. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are flowcharts illustrating theprocessing steps to be performed by the CPUs in the control section 11of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and the control section 21 ofthe mobile phone 3 of Embodiment 3.

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 monitors the“Connection Establishment Restriction” key on the operation panel 12,and displays the connection selection receiving screen in the displaysection 13 when the user operates the “Connection EstablishmentRestriction” key. The CPU (selection receiving means) of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 receives through the connection selectionreceiving screen the selection of a connection establishment request tobe accepted by the digital multi-function peripheral 1 (S601).

This process will be explained in detail below. As a method for anexternal device to make a connection establishment request to thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 (wireless communication section 16),two patterns are considered. In the first pattern, a device whichreceived the multi-function peripheral address sent from thereader/writer 15 makes a connection establishment request to thewireless communication section 16 of the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 by using the received multi-function peripheral address. Inshort, this is a connection establishment request (first connectionestablishment request) from the recipient of the multi-functionperipheral address. In the second pattern, a device which did notreceive the multi-function peripheral address makes a connectionestablishment request to the wireless communication section 16 of thedigital multi-function peripheral 1. Namely, this is a connectionestablishment request (second connection establishment request) fromother than the recipient of the multi-function peripheral address. Asthe second pattern, there may be a case where other Bluetooth compatibledevice within a given short distance (for example 100m) from the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 (the wireless connection device 16) searchesfor and obtains the multi-function peripheral address of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 (the wireless communication section 16) andmakes a connection establishment request by using the obtainedmulti-function peripheral address, or a case where other Bluetoothcompatible device makes a connection establishment request by using thecommunication history if it communicated with the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 (the wireless communication section 16) in the past. Thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 of Embodiment 3 may establish apattern of connection selected from these two patterns according to aneed. The above-described first pattern is called the “via pattern” andthe second pattern is called the “direct pattern” below.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view illustrating one example of the connectionselection receiving screen. Selections (soft keys) representing “1.Allow only requests via the reader/writer”, “2. Allow only directrequests”, and “3. Allow both” are displayed in the connection selectionreceiving screen, and the user may select one of them by suitablyoperating the operation panel 12 (or the touch panel). The CPU of thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 stores the selection receivedthrough the connection selection receiving screen in the storage section14. For example, when “1. Allow only requests via the reader/writer” isselected, only connection establishment requests corresponding to “viapattern” are accepted. When “2. Allow only direct requests” is selected,only connection establishment requests corresponding to “direct pattern”are accepted. When “3. Allow both” is selected, connection establishmentrequests corresponding to “via pattern” and “direct pattern” areaccepted.

When the CPU of the mobile phone 2 decides that the multi-functionperipheral address has been received from the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 (see S502), it stores the received multi-functionperipheral address in the storage area in the contact/noncontact IC card26. The CPU of the mobile phone 2 which received the multi-functionperipheral address makes a connection establishment request to thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 (S701). More specifically, the CPUof the mobile phone 2 sends the Bluetooth address of the wirelesscommunication section 27 (the mobile phone address) and data requestingfor pairing to the wireless communication section 16 of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 through the wireless communication section27.

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 monitors the wirelesscommunication section 16 and decides whether or not there is aconnection establishment request (or a pairing request) from the mobilephone 2 (S602). When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1decides that there is not a connection establishment request (S602: NO),it waits until a connection establishment request is made by the mobilephone 2. When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decidesthat it has received a connection establishment request (S602: YES), itstores the mobile phone address received from the mobile phone 2 in thestorage section 14.

Next, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides, on thebasis of the data stored in the storage section 14, whether or not theselection received in step S601 is “via pattern” (S603). When the CPU ofthe digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that the selection is“via pattern” (S603: YES), it decides whether or not the connectionestablishment request received in step S602 was the connection of “viapattern” (via the reader/writer 15) (S604). Here, by referring to thedata stored in the job status management area in the storage section 14,the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides whether ornot the connection establishment request received in step S602 is aconnection establishment request (a first connection establishmentrequest) from the device (mobile phone 2) to which the reader/writer 15sent the multi-function peripheral address.

More specifically, if “Executing” is written in the job statusmanagement area in the storage section 14, the multi-function peripheraladdress was already sent by the reader/writer 15, and therefore the CPUof the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that the receivedconnection establishment request is a request for connectionestablishment of “via pattern” from the recipient device (mobile phone2) to which the multi-function peripheral address was sent. If “Stopped”is written in the job status management area in the storage section 14,the reader/writer 15 has not sent the multi-function peripheral address,and therefore the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decidesthat the received connection establishment request is a connectionestablishment request of “direct pattern” from a device which is not therecipient of the multi-function peripheral address.

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that theconnection establishment request received in step 5602 was theconnection of “via pattern” (via the reader/writer 15) (S604: YES), itdisplays the passkey input screen asking for the input of passkey in thedisplay section 13 of the operation panel 12 (S605), and asks the userto input the passkey to establish a connection according to the receivedconnection establishment request. The CPU of the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 receives the input of the passkey from the user through theoperation panel 12 (or the touch panel of the display section 13) andstores the received passkey temporarily in the storage section 14.

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that theconnection establishment request received in step S602 was not theconnection of “via pattern” (via the reader/writer 15) (S604: NO), itdecides that a connection establishment request of “direct pattern” wasmade, and invalidates the received connection establishment request(S617) and finishes the process.

In step S603, when the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1decides that the received selection is not “via pattern” (S603: NO),then it decides whether or not the received selection is “directpattern” (S614).

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that thereceived selection is not “direct pattern” (S614: NO), then it decidesthat “3. Allow Both” was selected, and moves the process to step S605.

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that thereceived selection is “direct pattern” (S614: YES), it decides whetheror not the connection establishment request received in step S602 wasthe connection of “via pattern” (via the reader/writer 15) (S615).

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that theconnection establishment request received in step S602 was not theconnection of “via pattern” (via the reader/writer 15) (S615: NO), itdisplays the passkey input screen asking for the input of passkey in thedisplay section 13 of the operation panel 12 (S605) and requests theuser to input the passkey in order to establish a connection in respondto the received connection establishment request.

On the other hand, when the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral1 decides that the connection establishment request received in stepS602 was the connection of “via pattern” (via the reader/writer 15)(S615: YES), it decides that it received a connection establishmentrequest of “via pattern”, and invalidates the received connectionestablishment request (S616) and finishes the process.

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 compares the passkeyreceived through the passkey input screen displayed in step S605 withthe passkey stored in advance in the storage section 14. If the passkeysmatch, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 establishes aconnection with the mobile phone 2 (or completes pairing). Hence, thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 and the mobile phone 2 are set to beready to communicate with each other. On the other hand, when the CPU ofthe digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that the passkeys do notmatch, it displays this fact and the screen asking for the input ofpasskey again in the display section 13.

Next, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 requests thelisting data of file names by sending data requesting for the listingdata of the file names of images, documents etc. held by the mobilephone 2 with which the connection has been established to the wirelesscommunication section 27 of the mobile phone 2 through the wirelesscommunication section 16 (S606).

When the CPU of the mobile phone 2 receives the data requesting for thelisting data from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 (S702), itretrieves the requested listing data from the flash memory 24 and sendsit to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 through the wirelesscommunication section 27 (S703).

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 receives through thewireless communication section 16 the listing data sent from the mobilephone 2 (S607), and stores it in the storage section 14.

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 displays, on thebasis of the listing data stored in the storage section 14, the filename list screen for receiving the selection of a desired file to beprinted from the user as illustrated in FIG. 5 in the display section 13(S608).

The CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 receives theselection of a file from the user through the operation panel 12 and thetouch panel of the display section 13 (S609), and sends data requestingfor image data of the file selected (selected file) to the mobile phone2 through the wireless communication section 16 (S610).

When the CPU of the mobile phone 2 receives the request for the imagedata of the selected file from the digital multi-function peripheral 1(S704), it retrieves the image data of the selected file from the flashmemory 24 and sends it to the digital multi-function peripheral 1through the wireless communication section 27 (S705).

When the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 receives theimage data of the selected file from the mobile phone 2 through thewireless communication section 16 (S611), it stores the received imagedata in the storage section 14.

Next, the CPU of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 sends the imagedata stored in the storage section 14 to the image output section 19 andprints an image on the basis of the image data received from the mobilephone 2 by the image output section 19 (S612).

After printing is executed completely, the CPU of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 cuts off the connection to the mobile phone2 (S613) and finishes the communication. At this time, the CPU of thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 may delete the mobile phone addressreceived in step S602 and the passkey received in step S605 from thestorage section 14.

Although Embodiment 3 explains a configuration in which the usermanually inputs the passkey in order to certainly input the passkey, thepasskey may be sent and received through the reader/writer 15 of thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 and the contact/noncontact IC card26 of the mobile phone 2 if simplicity has priority.

For a device which is not capable of inputting a passkey (such as amouse and a headset), the passkey may be set to a fixed value, or thedevice may be configured to eliminate the necessity of inputting thepasskey. For example, for such a device which is not capable ofinputting a passkey, a simple combination of numbers such as, forexample, “0000” may be set as the default passkey.

The digital multi-function peripheral 1 may be configured to stopsending the multi-function peripheral address from the reader/writer 15,or stop supplying power to the reader/writer 15, when the “directpattern” is set in the digital multi-function peripheral 1. In such aconfiguration, since the reader/writer 15 of the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 is disabled to send the multi-function peripheral address,communication via the reader/writer 15 is completely blocked.

The present invention may also be configured so that if the mobile phone2 is brought very close to the reader/writer 15 of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 when “direct pattern” is set, a messagestating that only Bluetooth connection establishment is currentlyavailable, or a message stating that only Bluetooth connectionestablishment is to be requested, is displayed in the display sections22 and 13 of the mobile phone 2 and the digital multi-functionperipheral 1, respectively. With this display, the user notices his/hermistake and may easily understand the way to deal with the mistake. Onother hand, if a request for connection establishment by “directpattern” is made by an external device when the “via pattern” is set, amessage stating that only connection establishment by “via pattern” iscurrently available, or a message stating that connection establishmentby “via pattern” is to be requested, may be displayed in the displaysections 22 and 13 of the mobile phone 2 and the digital multi-functionperipheral 1, respectively.

In Embodiment 3, although a decision as to whether or not a connectionestablishment request received by the digital multi-function peripheral1 (the wireless communication section 16) is “via pattern” or “directpattern” is made on the basis of whether or not “Executing” is stored inthe job status management area in the storage section 14 of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1, the present invention is not limited tothis. For example, the present invention may be configured so that ifthe mobile phone 2 is brought very close to the reader/writer 15 of thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 when the digital multi-functionperipheral 1 is set to the “via pattern”, the reader/writer 15 sends themulti-function peripheral address and a flag indicating thatcommunication is performed via the reader/writer 15 to the mobile phone2. In this case, when establishing a connection between the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 and the mobile phone 2 later, the mobilephone 2 sends the flag together with a connection establishment requestto the digital multi-function peripheral 1. Then, the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 decides whether the connection establishmentrequest received from the mobile phone 2 is a request for connectionestablishment via the reader/writer 15 or a request for connectionestablishment of “direct pattern” by confirming whether or not the datacorresponding to the connection establishment request includes the flag.In other words, if the flag is not confirmed even when “via pattern” isset, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 decides that the request isa request for connection establishment of “direct pattern”, and rejectsthe connection establishment request. Such a configuration makes itpossible to more accurately decide whether a received connectionestablishment request is a request for connection establishment of “viapattern”, or “direct pattern”.

The user of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 may select a methodsuitable for him/her from these setting methods to enable only aconnection according to a connection method suitable for him/her. Thepresent invention may be configured to allow a manager, instead of auser, to select a connection method. For instance, in the case of arental digital multi-function peripheral installed in a conveniencestore, when the manager sets the digital multi-function peripheral toallow only “via pattern”, even if a request for connection establishmentby Bluetooth is made outside the store, this request is rejected, andtherefore it is possible to enable only a customer using the digitalmulti-function peripheral inside the store to use Bluetoothcommunication via the reader/writer.

In the case where the digital multi-function peripheral is used in alimited environment, such as within a company, for example, if not onlycommunication of “via pattern”, but also communication of “directpattern” is enabled, even when the user sits distant from the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1, he/she may establish a connection with thedigital multi-function peripheral 1 without moving to the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1. As described above, since a connectionmethod is selectable, it is possible to select a connection methodsuitable for the use situation or the installation situation of thedigital multi-function peripheral 1, and it is also possible to enhancesecurity performance.

Although the above description explains an example in which the mobilephone 2 sends data to the digital multi-function peripheral 1, thepresent invention is not limited to this. For example, document imagedata read by the scanner of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 maybe sent to other digital multi-function peripheral, or facsimile imagedata, electronic data etc. stored in the storage section of the digitalmulti-function peripheral 1 may be sent to other digital multi-functionperipheral. Further, if two or more communication means are providedlike the reader/writer 15 and the wireless communication section 16 ofthe digital multi-function peripheral 1, it is possible to produce thesame effects as those of the present invention.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiments are therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than bythe description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metesand bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and boundsthereof are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.

1. A communication system including a first communication device and asecond communication device, each of the first communication device andthe second communication device having a plurality of wirelesscommunication sections to communicate with each other, wherein the firstcommunication device comprises: a first communication section forestablishing a connection and communicating with the secondcommunication device; a second communication section for sendingidentification data of the first communication device to the secondcommunication device; and a connection rejecting section for rejecting aconnection establishment request from other devices after a connectionis established with the second communication device, and the secondcommunication device comprises: a third communication section forreceiving the identification data of the first communication device; anda fourth communication section for establishing a connection andcommunicating with the first communication section by using theidentification data received by the third communication section.
 2. Thecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein the firstcommunication device comprises a stopping section for stopping thesecond communication section from sending the identification data aftera connection is established with the second communication device.
 3. Thecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein the secondcommunication device comprises: a first storage section for storing theidentification data received by the third communication section; and afirst deleting section for deleting the identification data from thefirst storage section after communication by the fourth communicationsection is finished.
 4. The communication system according to claim 1,wherein the first communication device comprises: a second storagesection for receiving and storing identification data of the secondcommunication device; and a second deleting section for deleting theidentification data of the second communication device from the secondstorage section after communication by the first communication sectionis finished.
 5. The communication system according to claim 1, whereinthe second communication section and the third communication sectionperform communication using a RFID system, and the first communicationsection and the fourth communication section perform wirelesscommunication over longer distances than communication using the RFIDsystem.
 6. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein thefirst storage section stores the identification data received by thethird communication section in a free area within a storage area in theRFID system.
 7. An information processing system including acommunication terminal device, and an information processing device forobtaining data from the communication terminal device and processing thedata, wherein the information processing device comprises: a firstsending/receiving section for establishing a connection with thecommunication terminal device and sending/receiving data; a sendingsection for sending identification data of the information processingdevice to the communication terminal device; and a connection rejectingsection for rejecting a connection establishment request from otherdevices after a connection is established with the communicationterminal device, and the communication terminal device comprises: areceiving section for receiving the identification data of theinformation processing device; and a second sending/receiving sectionfor establishing a connection with the first sending/receiving sectionand sending/receiving data by using the identification data received bythe receiving section.
 8. The information processing system according toclaim 7, wherein the information processing device comprises: a displaysection; an obtaining section for obtaining content data held by thecommunication terminal device; and a display control section fordisplaying an image corresponding to the content data obtained by theobtaining section in the display section.
 9. The information processingsystem according to claim 7, wherein the information processing devicecomprises a notification section for notifying the communicationterminal device about occurrence of an error or normal completion ofdata processing.
 10. An image formation system including a mobilecommunication device, and an image forming apparatus for obtaining datafrom the mobile communication device and forming an image on the basisof the data, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises: a firstsending/receiving section for establishing a connection with the mobilecommunication device and sending/receiving data; a sending section forsending identification data of the image forming apparatus to the mobilecommunication device; and a connection rejecting section for rejecting aconnection establishment request from other devices after a connectionis established with the mobile communication device, and the mobilecommunication device comprises: a receiving section for receiving theidentification data of the image forming apparatus; and a secondsending/receiving section for establishing a connection with the firstsending/receiving section and sending/receiving data by using theidentification data received by the receiving section.
 11. The imageformation system according to claim 10, wherein the image formingapparatus comprises a stopping section for stopping the sending sectionfrom sending the identification data after a connection is establishedwith the mobile communication device.
 12. The image formation systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises: adisplay section; an obtaining section for obtaining content data held bythe mobile communication device; and a display control section fordisplaying an image corresponding to the content data obtained by theobtaining section in the display section.
 13. The image formation systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises anotification section for notifying the mobile communication device aboutoccurrence of an error or normal completion of image formation.
 14. Theimage formation system according to claim 10, wherein the mobilecommunication device comprises a display section for displaying an imageon the basis of content data stored, and when the receiving sectionapproaches within a given distance from the sending section of the imageforming apparatus with an image corresponding to arbitrary content datadisplayed in the display section, the second sending/receiving sectionsends the arbitrary content data to the first sending/receiving section.15. An image forming apparatus for obtaining image data from an externaldevice and forming an image on the basis of the image data, comprising:a receiving section for establishing a connection with one device andreceiving image data; a sending section for sending its identificationdata to the one device; and a connection rejecting section for rejectinga connection establishment request from other devices after a connectionis established with the one device.
 16. The image forming-apparatusaccording to n claim 15, comprising a stopping section for stopping thesending section from sending the identification data after a connectionis established with the one device.
 17. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 15, comprising: a display section; and a displaycontrol section for displaying an image corresponding to image datareceived by the receiving section in the display section.
 18. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a notificationsection for notifying the one device about occurrence of an error ornormal completion of image formation.
 19. A mobile information terminaldevice for communicating with an external device, comprising: a firstcommunication section for establishing a connection with one device andsending/receiving data; a second communication section for receivingidentification data of the one device; and a connection rejectingsection for rejecting a connection establishment request from otherdevices after a connection is established with the one device.
 20. Themobile information terminal device according to claim 19, comprising: astorage section for storing the identification data received by thesecond communication section; and a deleting section for deleting theidentification data from the storage section after the firstcommunication section sends/receives data by using the identificationdata.
 21. The mobile information terminal device according to claim 19,comprising a display section for displaying an image on the basis ofcontent data stored, wherein when the mobile information terminal deviceapproaches within a given distance from the one device with an imagecorresponding to arbitrary content data displayed in the displaysection, the first communication section sends the arbitrary contentdata to the one device.
 22. An information processing system including acommunication device, and an information processing device for obtainingdata from the communication device and processing the data, wherein theinformation processing device comprises: a first sending/receivingsection for sending/receiving data to/from the communication device; anda sending section for sending identification data of the firstsending/receiving section to the communication device, wherein the firstsending/receiving section is controlled to receive at least one of afirst connection establishment request from the communication devicethat is a recipient of the identification data and a second connectionestablishment request from other than the recipient, and thecommunication device comprises: a receiving section for receiving theidentification data of the first sending/receiving section; and a secondsending/receiving section for establishing a connection with the firstsending/receiving section and sending/receiving data by using theidentification data received by the receiving section.
 23. Theinformation processing system according to claim 22, wherein theinformation processing device comprises: a selection receiving sectionfor receiving selection of a connection establishment request to beaccepted between the first connection establishment request and thesecond connection establishment request; a storage section for storingdata indicating that the identification data was sent when the sendingsection sent the identification data; a deciding section for deciding onthe basis of data stored in the storage section whether or not theconnection establishment request received by the first sending/receivingsection is the first connection establishment request; and a connectionestablishing section for accepting, on the basis of a result of decisionmade by the deciding section, a connection establishment requestaccording to the selection received by the selection receiving sectionand establishing a connection.
 24. The information processing systemaccording to claim 22, wherein the sending section and the receivingsection perform communication using a RFID system, and the firstsending/receiving section and the second sending/receiving sectionperform wireless communication over longer distances or at a higher ratethan communication using the RFID system.
 25. The information processingsystem according to claim 24, wherein the communication device storesthe identification data received by the receiving section in a free areawithin a storage area in the RFID system.
 26. An information processingdevice comprising: a sending/receiving section for sending/receivingdata to/from an external device; and a sending section for sendingidentification data of the sending/receiving section, wherein thesending/receiving section is controlled to receive at least one of afirst connection establishment request from a recipient of theidentification data and a second connection establishment request fromother than the recipient.
 27. The information processing deviceaccording to claim 26, comprising: a selection receiving section forreceiving selection of a connection establishment request to be acceptedbetween the first connection establishment request and the secondconnection establishment request; a storage section for storing dataindicating that the identification data was sent when the sendingsection sent the identification data; a deciding section for deciding onthe basis of data stored in the storage section whether or not theconnection establishment request received by the sending/receivingsection is the first connection establishment request; and a connectionestablishing section for accepting, on the basis of a result of decisionmade by the deciding section, a connection establishment requestaccording to the selection received by the selection receiving sectionand establishing a connection.
 28. The information processing deviceaccording to claim 26, wherein the sending section performscommunication using a RFID system, and the sending/receiving sectionperforms wireless communication over longer distances or at a higherrate than communication using the RFID system.
 29. An image formingapparatus comprising: an information processing device according toclaim 26; and an image forming section for forming an image on the basisof data received by the sending/receiving section of the informationprocessing device.
 30. The image forming apparatus according to claim29, comprising: a display section; and a display control section fordisplaying in the display section an image on the basis of data receivedby the sending/receiving section of the information processing device.31. An image formation system including a mobile communication device,and an image forming apparatus for obtaining data from the mobilecommunication device and forming an image on the basis of the data,wherein the image forming apparatus comprises: a first datacommunication section for sending/receiving data to/from the mobilecommunication device by using a Bluetooth communication system; a datasending section for sending a unique address of the first datacommunication section to the mobile communication device by using a RFIDcommunication system; a selection receiving section for receivingselection of a connection establishment request to be accepted between afirst connection establishment request from the mobile communicationdevice that is a recipient of the unique address and a second connectionestablishment request from other than the recipient; a storage sectionfor storing data indicating that the unique address was sent when thedata sending section sent the unique address; a deciding section fordeciding on the basis of data stored in the storage section whether ornot the connection establishment request received by the first datacommunication section is the first connection establishment request; anda connection establishing section for accepting, on the basis of aresult of decision made by the deciding section, a connectionestablishment request according to the selection received by theselection receiving section and establishing a connection, the mobilecommunication device comprises: an address receiving section forreceiving the unique address by using the RFID communication system; anda second data communication section for sending/receiving data by theBluetooth communication system to/from the first data communicationsection by using the unique address received by the address receivingsection, and the image forming apparatus further comprises an imageforming section for forming on a sheet an image on the basis of receivedimage data when the first data communication section received the imagedata from a mobile communication device with which a connection has beenestablished by the connection establishing section.
 32. An image formingapparatus comprising: a communication section for performingcommunication by using a Bluetooth communication system; a sendingsection for sending a unique address of the communication section byusing a RFID communication system; a selection receiving section forreceiving selection of a connection establishment request to be acceptedbetween a first connection establishment request from a recipient of theunique address and a second connection establishment request from otherthan the recipient; a storage section for storing data indicating thatthe unique address was sent when the sending section sent the uniqueaddress; a deciding section for deciding on the basis of data stored inthe storage section whether or not the connection establishment requestreceived by the communication section is the first connectionestablishment request; a connection establishing section for accepting,on the basis of a result of decision made by the deciding section, aconnection establishment request according to the selection received bythe selection receiving section and establishing a connection; and animage forming section for forming on a sheet an image on the basis ofreceived image data when the communication section received the imagedata from a communication partner with which a connection has beenestablished by the connection establishing section.